WINDSOR, ON — After a three month dry spell, three-year-old trotting colt Smooth Moves found his way back to the winner’s circle on Sunday when he captured a Gold Elimination at Windsor Raceway.

Leaving from Post 4, driver Trevor Ritchie settled Smooth Moves on the rail in fifth as favourite Stonebridge Diablo took the colts to a :27.2 opening quarter. However, by the time the field reached the :56.1 half, Ritchie had moved the colt to the outside and was taking aim on the leaders. As the teletimer ticked off a 1:26.3 three-quarters Smooth Moves established control of the race and then cruised home a two length winner in 1:57.

EL Leonard picked up the runner-up’s share of the $53,461 purse, while Classic Lavec, owned by Classic Farms of Belle River, rounded out the top three nine lengths to the rear.

Smooth Moves’s last appearance in the winner’s circle was on July 30 at Mohawk Racetrack when he captured the Canadian Breeders Championship. Since that 1:56 victory the Angus Hall son has not finished better than fifth for trainer Harald Lunde of Campbellville and his partner Hans Enggren of New Oxford, PA.

In addition to breaking his streak of bad luck, Sunday’s victory boosted the colt’s record to three wins and four seconds in 17 starts for earnings of $166,989, and moved him into a tie for sixth spot in the race for a berth in the season ending $300,000 Super Final.

Also returning to Windsor Raceway next weekend for the $130,000 Gold Final is fourth-place finisher and reigning Gold Final Stonebridge Diablo.

The second Gold Elimination saw Good To Be King claim his first piece of Ontario Sires Stakes hardware with a five length victory in 1:57.2. Paul MacDonell piloted the Balanced Image son to the impressive front end victory, which featured a :28 last quarter.

Orion King and Last Flight Out rounded out the top three in the second elimination, while the favourite, Stormont Welldone, once again settled for fourth. Fifth-place finisher Adam T won the draw to claim the last spot on the starting gate in next week’s Final.

Good To Be King has three wins, five seconds and one third on his resume through 19 starts this season and has earned $126,548 for owners Al Libfeld of Pickering and Marvin Katz of Toronto. John Bax trains Good To Be King, who currently sits fourth in the division standings.

The elimination winners will square off from Posts 4 and 7 in next week’s battle at Windsor Raceway. Post positions for the last $130,000 Gold Final of the trotters’ careers are as follows:

Post 1 Adam T

Post 2 Orion King

Post 3 Stonebridge Diablo

Post 4 Smooth Moves

Post 5 Stormont Welldone

Post 6 Last Flight Out

Post 7 Good To Be King

Post 8 Classic Lavec

Post 9 EL Leonard

AE1 Tristar Lee

AE2 Speeden

AE3 Reserved Image

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html